‘Taste’ dishes up a rare treat for ABC

ABC’s “The Taste” did something very few new shows have done this season: Finished as the No. 1 show of the night in its premiere.

Of course, it came against weak competition, with CBS in reruns and the other networks offering lackluster fare. Still, it’s a good start for the new reality show, a sort of “The Voice” meets “Top Chef” cooking contest.

“Taste” averaged a 2.2 adults 18-49 rating from 8 to 10 p.m., according to Nielsen overnights. In a surprise that the network is sure to tout, “Taste” actually bested last fall’s season premiere of “Dancing with the Stars,” which drew a 2.1 in the same timeslot.

In a good sign for ABC, “Taste” grew from a 1.9 in its first half hour to a 2.4 in its fourth, winning its timeslot at 8 and 9.

“Taste’s” lead-out, “Private Practice,” grew 25 percent from last week to a 1.5 for its series finale.

Another finale, this the fourth-season ender for NBC’s “Parenthood,” drew a 1.7 at 10 p.m. Though that was down from last week’s 1.9 (perhaps hurt by “Practice’s” series finale), the drama did win its timeslot for the seventh straight telecast.

Fox’s “New Girl” was the night’s No. 2 show with a 2.1, growing 11 percent from last week’s series low.

Fox’s “Girl” and “The Mindy Project” beat their comedy competition on NBC, where “Go On” (1.3) and “The New Normal” (1.2) fell to season lows.

ABC led the night among 18-49s with a 1.9 average overnight rating and a 5 share. Univision was second at 1.7/4, NBC and Fox tied for third at 1.6/4, CBS fifth at 1.5/4, Telemundo sixth at 0.6/2 and CW seventh at 0.6/1.

As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback, which includes shows replayed before 3 a.m. the night before. Seven-day DVR data won’t be available for several weeks. Forty-six percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.

At 8 p.m. ABC led with a 2.0 for “Taste,” while CBS, NBC and Univision all tied for second at 1.7, CBS for a repeat of “NCIS,” NBC for “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers” (1.6 and 1.8) and Univision for “Por Ella Soy Eva.” Fox was fifth with a 1.5 for “Raising Hope” (1.7) and “Ben and Kate” (1.2), CW sixth with a 0.7 for “Hart of Dixie”(tying a season high) and Telemundo seventh with a 0.6 for “Rosa Diamante.”

ABC was first again at 9 p.m. with a 2.3 for more “Taste,” followed by Univision with a 2.0 for “Amores Verdaderos.” Fox was third with a 1.8 for “Girl” (2.1) and “Mindy” (1.5), CBS fourth with a 1.7 for a rerun of “NCIS: Los Angeles,” NBC fifth with a 1.3 for “Go” (1.3) and “Normal” (1.2), Telemundo sixth with a 0.6 for “La Patrona” and CW seventh with a 0.5 for “Emily Owens, M.D.”

NBC took the lead at 10 p.m. with a 1.7 for “Parenthood,” with ABC second with a 1.5 for “Practice.” Univision was third with a 1.3 for “Amor Bravio,” CBS fourth with a 1.1 for a repeat of “Vegas” and Telemundo fifth with a 0.6 for “Pablo Escobar: El Patron del Mal” (0.8) and “El Rostro de la Venganza” (0.5).

CBS finished first for the night among households with a 6.8 average overnight rating and a 10 share. ABC was second at 3.8/6, NBC third at 3.1/5, Fox fourth at 2.1/3, Univision fifth at 2.0/3, CW sixth at 1.0/2 and Telemundo seventh at 0.7/1.